From:
Joseph Crockett <jcrocketchem**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Peroxide strips and 2-propanol
Date:
Oct 3, 2025 19:16 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CAEmVX2TdRu=W1dOtsjj3xHnF-ftL3NsPjoPXzk6gPvQyP6XaVQ**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<CAOCg_ca7=fRTk3Q_rfa-awZufUtffZa+m1OYhds_gqoKGjv8vQ**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
Before I retired, we checked all secondary and tertiary alcohols yearly for possible peroxide formation. ONe of the worst waas 2-butanol. I don't remember anything specific for 2-[rp[anol.
Joe Crockett
I am doing a chemical hygiene independent study course with a student, and (mainly for educational purposes) we tested our 2-propanol in the stock room with peroxide test strips. There was an intense unmistakable color change, which seemed surprising given that the containers are less than 1 year old. My question is if others of you with more experience have gotten positive tests like this--can it really contain that much peroxide or is there some other interference happening with the test strips?
- The brand is "WaterWorks", not expired.
- The strip was dipped in the 2-propanol, extra drips removed, then a drop of DI water was added to the strip.
- We also tried it in reverse-adding the water first, then dipping. Same result.
- Other organics tested in this way did not indicate any peroxides.
We don't distill the stuff so I'm not overly concerned, mainly curious. What's happening?
Laurie
-- Laurie M. Yoder, PhD (she,her)
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Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Hygiene OfficerFaculty Athletics RepresentativeEastern Mennonite University
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